Tiemoue Bakayoko is about to leave Chelsea for the fifth time after reports revealed which Serie A side are “closing in” on taking the AC Milan loanee.
Bakayoko is still on Chelsea’s books despite last making an appearance for them in 2018. The midfielder was a major disappointment after his arrival from Monaco five-and-a-half years ago.
After making 43 appearances for the club, Bakayoko has been sent here, there and everywhere by Chelsea. For the 2018-19 season, he went to AC Milan for a new challenge in Serie A.
In 2019-20, he returned to Monaco, before getting a different opportunity in Serie A with Napoli in 2020-21.
Then, Bakayoko ended up back at Milan on a two-year loan. But if Chelsea were hoping that was the way to get him off the books for good, it hasn’t quite worked.
The midfielder was a member of Milan’s Scudetto-winning squad last season, making 18 appearances in all competitions along the way. However, he failed to provide a goal or assist.
This season, he hasn’t even managed a single minute of action, with Milan keen to avoid the circumstances that would force them to buy Bakayoko due to an obligation clause in his loan deal.
Hence, the player has been in limbo and there has been a dilemma for Chelsea and Milan to resolve. Now, a conclusion is nearing.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, whose information has also been backed up by Fabrizio Romano, Bakayoko is “closing in” on a move to a different Serie A side.
Per the Italian sources, his arrangement with Milan will be cancelled and he will then head to Cremonese, who are bottom of the Serie A table after failing to win any of their first 20 games since promotion.
Chelsea flop reaches lowest ebb of career
Although he will still be playing in a top division, the move perhaps sums up how Bakayoko’s career has gone wrong.
At the age of 28, he should be enjoying his prime years, but with all due respect, Cremonese will be the club of the lowest stature he has represented.
The one-time France international has turned down Turkish club Adana Demirspor in favour of settling at a third different Serie A side.
If they can get him enjoying his football again, then it will be fair enough for Bakayoko. But this won’t be the way he will have envisaged his Chelsea career ending when he signed for them for £40million back in 2017.
It is unclear what the formula of the deal will be and how much money might end up back in the pockets of Chelsea, who have Bakayoko under contract until 2024.
But it is surely in everyone’s best interests now to draw a line under his association with the club.
SOURCE: teamtalk.com
